2015 Kickstarter Game Update Week 19

[spacealien_vamp]

Games I Viewed:
The Gallerist

Status: Funded

This is the newest game by the designer of such heavy classics as Vinhos and CO₂. I looked at it because it seemed like an interesting theme, but this designer's games tend to be more complex and brain-burny than I prefer.

Apotheca

Status: Funded

This is a semi-abstract game in which players are apothecaries trying to concoct potions in order to gain membership in a secret society. The components are gorgeous, I'm just not sure what I think about the game mechanics. It does have a solo variant as a stretch goal, which makes it more tempting.

Argonauts

Status: Funded

In this cooperative game, players control a band of mythological Greek heroes as they journey with Jason to bring back the Golden Fleece. The art is fantastic, but the project designers seem worryingly amateurish. For example, they are planning to evade customs charges for the backers by claiming a lower value than the actual cost of the game, which is...kind of illegal.

Comments

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

The theme of Argonauts could tempt me, but... oh god, the whole team is from Greece. No offence to our friends over in the cradle of Mediterranean civilization, but that tells me all I need to know about their business skills and financial acumen.

(There's a good reason - a multitude of good reasons - that country is perpetually bankrupt. And you should see how they run a study abroad program.)

[jojobruin.livejournal.com]

Why is Greece perpetually bankrupt in your opinion?

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

A bad combination of go-go-go profit making, corruption (especially involving cronyism - everyone's trying to do a favor for his relative/friend/second cousin's dog), and reckless financial management. What's been widely reported in the press about the underlying causes of Greece's inability to meet its financial obligations in the EU has been mirrored by my experience dealing with study abroad programs. The Greeks I've met have been charming individuals, but terrible business managers.

I'm sure there are exceptions, of course. But it's a toxic climate for running a financially sound venture.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

The Greeks I've met have been charming individuals, but terrible business managers.

I have had good luck with one Greek company (Artipia, publisher of Among the Stars and other games). Their distribution system wasn't the greatest, but I did get everything I ordered eventually. However, they already had a decent track record before I backed one of their games.

[jojobruin.livejournal.com]

I see. Sad. they had a great thing going in antiquity - self-discipline, restraint and rationality... what happened to all that?

How did you manage to work with Greek study abroad programs, just out of curiosity? =)

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

Well, more like not working with them. We had to deal with one outfit that was VERY EAGER to offer their services, only when one of my colleagues visited to check it out, their services consisted of hanging out with someone's cousin's cousin in the hallway of a museum.

Like I said...

(Again, disclaimer: I'm sure there are many good study abroad programs in Greece. This just wasn't one of them. And seriously, run by the most charming and personable guy you could hope to meet.)